Kabam partners with Warner Brothers to launch a pair of social games for The Hobbit

At least it's not a trilogy

With the December release of the first installment of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy fast approaching, the inevitable onslaught of tie-in games is ready to start.

San Francisco–based developer Kabam announced that it is creating The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age for web browsers and The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-Earth for smartphones and tablets.

Both titles will be free-to-play and, like many Kabam games, will feature strong social components.An unexpected tie-in

The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age (that's the one for browsers) will allow players to control the fantasy armies of the various races of middle earth like dwarves, elves, and orcs in battle.

The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-Earth (phones and tablets) will be a more familiar feeling town-building simulator similar to Kabam's Arcane Empires, and will task players with the construction and management of fantasy settlements in Middle Earth.

Both of these titles are scheduled for a release later in the autumn, and interested players may sign up for the beta of The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age on Kabam's website.

Earlier this summer, Warner Brothers and Lego announced the Lego The Lord of the Rings which will be coming out later this year for consoles, the Nintendo 3DS, and PS Vita.

While not strictly tied in to the release of The Hobbit, it will feature many of the characters from the film in their later adventures.